Advantages And Disadvantages Of Public Listed Finance Essay - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 998 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Argumentative essay Did you like this example? Generally, the capital of a public listed company is raised from the public. Unlike private limited company, public listed companies have the rights to issue shares on the stock exchange. They can issue shares easily in the share market. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Advantages And Disadvantages Of Public Listed Finance Essay" essay for you Create order In addition, it often requires less time and expenses to issue shares. Therefore, a public listed company can raise large capital in a short period of time without having to spend much. The capital raised can be used to finance business activities for growth, expansion or pay off existing debts. It can also be used to fund research and development, buying assets and acquisitions. Thus, the value of the company will also increase with the growth of the public listed company. ii) Institutional Investment In most of the time, the investment bankers and funds seldom invest in private limited companies. However, they most probably will invest in your company when it is a public listed company. It will eventually increase the companys capital funding alternatives and ability. This is because the investors will gain liquidity and also the fact that public listed companies are more transparent due to the financial report announced publicly. The banks will have more confident towards public companies and less hesitation to lend money to them. As well, public listed companies often receive more favorable lending terms when borrowing from financial institutions. iii) Increase Visibility According to Chris Joseph (2009), being a public listed company means increased visibility and also exposure. The company will gain more awareness from the public through media coverage and publicly filed documents. This can improve the companys profile and eventually increase the value of the company in terms of shares. The increased visibility usually will receive many attractions from the potential customers and investors. This is not something that private company can easily do. Besides, it gives the public listed company a greater level of prestige. Prestige serves as a free source of marketing and helps promote the company as the company gains publicity. iv) Ability to Utilize Stock to Make Acquisitions The stock of a public listed company is as valuable as cash when acquiring other companies or assets. As a public listed company, it creates a type of currency in the form of its stock and the company can use it to make acquisitions. The markets valuation is used by public company when exchanging stock in an acquisition. In another words, public listed company have the ability to utilize stock to make acquisitions. Usually, it is less expensive and easier compared to private companies. v) Greater Employee Attraction and Retention For a public listed company, there will be greater employee attraction. Public listed company mostly does not have difficulty recruiting qualified workers compared to private company (Chris Joseph, n.d.). This is because public listed companies might be more attractive to potential employees since they can pay higher salaries due to the additional capital. These companies also offer enhanced benefits and incentives to motivate employees and improve retention. Besides, the employees also have higher chance to be promoted. Therefore, it creates great employee attraction and retention. Hence, it also increases the companys performance and generates higher profits. Disadvantages i) Profit-sharing Since public listed companies can issue shares, then they have to pay dividends. This means that public listed companies have to share their profits with others, the shareholders. The higher the number of shareholders, the more people the company has to share profits with. Thus, the earnings after paying dividends will be lower. ii) Loss of Overall Control According to Girish Ramachandran (2009), loss of overall control is one of the main disadvantages of being a public listed company. This is because the company has to share ownership with others such as the investors and also the shareholders. As the owners of the company, they have the rights to voice out their opinions and vote for matters that can affect the companys operations. The existing management may have loss of overall control of the company especially when the company is controlled by a group of investors. iii) Loss of Privacy Girish Ramachandran (2009) states that a public listed company will suffer loss of privacy. This is because as a public company, it will attract a lot of media interest as well as has to publish full disclosure about its operations and plans. Additionally, the law also requires the company to publish sensitive information, mostly annually, to prevent insider trading and also to protect the investors. There will be a loss of privacy because the companys financial report that consist of the sales, gross profit, net income, assets and liabilities will be publicly announced. This is a disadvantage as the other competitors can know about the financial position of the company. iv) High Reporting Requirements As a public listed company, there are additional obligations and reporting requirements because they have to fulfill a lot of regulatory requirements and meet accepted standards of corporate governance. Based on Investopedia (2009), public listed companies are regulated by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in regard to periodic financial reporting. Comprehensive audited financial statements must be prepared by all the public listed companies and also publish annual reports. Consequently, the company will have to incur high expenses to meet the reporting requirements. In addition, this disclosure provides information to competitors which are a drawback for the public listed companies. v) Pressures to Increase Earnings Although being a public listed company can issue shares, however this also means that there is an increase in accountability to the public shareholders. The shareholders are critical on the performance of the company and constantly look for rising profits. Therefore, public listed companies have to face added pressure of the market to increase earnings. The interest of the shareholders will have to be considered first although it may differ from the companys objectives. Eventually, this may cause them to focus more on short-term results rather than long-term growth (Investopedia, 2009). Hence, to boost earnings, the management even may agree to do somewhat questionable practices.

Gatsby Idealism And Reality - 2039 Words

For Jay Gatsby idealism and truth play important roles in how he chooses to live his life as well as how others view his life. Every individual holds different ideals and matters of what they believe to be the truth. For people who believe in idealism, existence and truth pertains to only what the person knows and believes in; therefore, how one perceives things to be is how they exist. For Gatsby the only Daisy that exists is perfect and the embodiment of everything he desires while for the narrator, Nick Carraway the way he views Daisy is messy and imperfect so she only exists that way to him. Due to it only being written in first person point of view the story holds a certain biased opinion of Daisy that affects the opinion of Gatsby.†¦show more content†¦Due to Gatsby s perception of the world and what he believes to be the right thing to do he undergoes physical and psychological changes, the people surrounding him also change their opinions on Gatsby due to his endeavo urs. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s intent with the construction of â€Å"The Great Gatsby† is to bring to light the complications viewed in believing and putting forth goals and values over concrete realities. Nick Carraway s observations of Gatsby and his life show this. From Nick’s perspective, Gatsby is ceaselessly chasing a person who only exists in Gatsby’s mind contrasting from the Daisy existing in Nick’s mind. Fitzgerald also outlines how the opinions pertaining to truth and existence vary among people and how depending on one individual’s opinion other opinions can clash and create negative views. The world that exists for Gatsby competes with the world observed by others, such as Nick, Daisy, Tom, and Jordan. Because Gatsby’s world is largely different than other people’s the interpretation of Gatsby becomes a madman with crazy ambitions and unattainable goals, this creates negative opinions on Gatsby even though for Gatsby h e is going after what he loves and does not mind the heartache that comes along with it. Fitzgerald’s novel outlines the judgment held by society and how people tend to try and dictate how another person should live theirShow MoreRelatedIdealism In The Great Gatsby1463 Words   |  6 PagesThe Effect of Truth on Idealism in The Great Gatsby An individual s idealistic world will often be far from the reality of their situation; their own idealistic world in which they wish to live will cloud the truth from their eyes, deceiving them of what their life truly is. In the novel, The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby lives his life under an illusion, the illusion that he is living in his own ideal world in which everything will work out for him. 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Gatsby puts his lover, Daisy, on a pedestal and believes she is larger than life. Everything he does to win her over is ideally perfect, but not realistic. The Great Gatsby by F. ScottRead MoreSimilar Themes found in The Great Gatsby and Tender is the Nigh t by F. Scott Fitzgerald1273 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout two of F Scott Fitzgeralds books, ‘The Great Gatsby and ‘Tender is the Night, comparisons can be made between the themes that are dealt with in each book. These themes that are portrayed, include materialism, the corruption of dreams and idealism, which all come under the larger theme of searching for human fulfilment. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Materialism is a theme that is very common through both of the books. In ‘The Great Gatsby we are constantly seeing characters living a hedonistic

Asia Pacific Business

Question: Discuss about the Asia Pacific Business. Answer: Introduction The business system is described as the framework that facilitates a company to formulate the set of movements most likely to accomplish this benefit. The business system charts every step involved to create and deliver products of a company. Managers have the choice of how to conduct a business that starts from development of a commodity to sales and service, at every link in the chain. The word system mostly stresses the importance of supporting at each step with the proposition of value (Zokaei et al. 2013). The essay provides an overview by comparing and contrasting business systems in Korea, China and Japan. It provides an overview about Korean business conglomerate that is termed as chaebol whereas; in Japan Keiretsu formed the largest group of business. According to the present research on varieties of capitalism, a field termed as comparative business systems, owes much of its strength to the influential volume. The economic development of East Asia has been regarded as the most pleasing surprises in the world (Waldenberger 2016). The essay compares the business systems between Japan, China and Korea. It shows that the market performance between China and Japan are far better as compared to their counterparts in the United States and Europe. In order compare and contrast the business system in Korea, China and Japan, it is required to make an understanding about the business system. Discussions According to Palmer (2016), in Japan the largest business group is formed under its business conglomerate known as Keiretsu that is also considered as the major contributors to the economy of Japan. This business group mostly employs Japanese style of administration and system. Zaibatsu was the predecessor of Keiretsu, which are considered as family run. There are mainly two types of Keiretsu; the first one is the horizontally organized Keiretsu and the second is the vertically organized Keiretsu. As opined by Yanase and Limpaphayom (2015), Fuyo Group is the largest Japanese Keiretsu that is considered as the corporate that descended from Yasuda zaibatsu. It was a key business group in Japan until the Second World War. However, in the year 1948 Yasuda was taken apart with its major monetary arm Yasuda Bank becoming Fuji Bank. Under this form of business conglomerate, both capital and human resources are knitted jointly together. The governing of the companies under this business conglomerate is handed to experts or agents in order to avoid disagreement among group members. The upright prearranged Keiretsu are mostly formed by a large parent company. Each flow and function of the companies follows a top to down procedure in order to control inventories as well as industrialized quality. Almost all the small and medium sized companies follow and utilize this system in Japan. On the other hand, in the year 1979 China started its reform program after the initiation of economic door policy by Deng Xiao Ping. The state government modernizes the major industries of China such as agriculture and technology. The state owned enterprise is also provided with the rights to form the structure of their company according to the requirements of leaner production procedure as well as maximization of market. The usage of profits and loss are also implemented by the state government of China (Yu 2014). With the help of this, a segment of the profits is donated to the state government however; the remaining profits can be kept by the state owned enterprise. The state government of China has also undertaking the downsizing of the state owned enterprise. This includes the development of stock exchange in Shanghai and Shenzhen and also transforms some imperative markets to shareholding industries in order to trade. As a result, it gives rise to the communist market economy i n China whereby commercial way of administrating the economy is reinforced. Japan follows development of its own industries whereas; China follows foreign direct investment policy. Japan has determined to become a part of export-determined economy and as a result, Japanese have been quick to recuperate its economy by competing ferociously in the ever rousingly saturated market. The commodities they are agitating out are of superior dependability and they often demean its competitors by a large margin to win the contract. Japan endowed profoundly on research and development in order to generate high value commodities to make it advantageous to the world. The business systems of Japan have also introduced several methods to enhance efficiency in order to ensure profitability. As opined by Issar and Navon (2016), Toyota generated a system termed as Just-In-Time (JIT) that highlight on the unemployment of keeping live inventory. JIT was first created in the year 1950 that disseminated slowly into diverse industries and plants in Japan. It necessitates close coll aborative association with all its suppliers for all its industries to work. With good performance, it can make sure lean production with little drooping and good flow procedure. This procedure brings about the envy of the manufacturing world particularly in the United States. The companies of Japan also made the use of Total Quality Control (TQC) in production. Professor William Demming who belongs to the city of New York however introduced it; the companies of Japan mostly utilize TQC. The major notion of TQC is to have little or no tolerance at rework. This is mostly because; most of the companies consider reworking of a work as wastage of time (Deshpand et al. 2013). On the other hand, according to Wang (2013), the state government of China views foreign direct investment as a very imperative medium in order to enhance the economy. The state government also generated four Special Economic Zones in Fujian and Guangdong in order to persuade the facilitation of foreign direct investment. The state government comprehends that by generating four zones is not adequate to open up the market. Due to increasing manufacturing cost in the Japanese companies, Japan has started to pour overseas direct investment into China to reduce cost. As a result, the importance of foreign direct investment can be reflected in both the countries. Japan mostly benefits from the low cost of production however; on the other hand, China benefits from the capital inflow as well as technology transfer. The Peoples Republic of China mostly makes the use of the socialist market economy that is based on the governance of State owned enterprises as well as upholding a free market open market. During the early stage of monetary reform in China, socialism can be considered as the basis for the reform and therefore has to implement industrialist techniques in order to survive (Alba, Song and Wang 2013). Japan mostly adopted the system of capitalist market economy that is quite similar to that of its western counterparts. With the help of this system, the business systems of Japan are encouraged to carry a free trade in the market. China adopted the market economy in the year 1980 that was coupled with the alleged reform and opening up policy, blocks of the market entry to the key Asian countries have in due course been erased. However, even though the market economy of China has been developing with large inflows of overseas investment as well as export, the political standing of China, which is one party controlled government, is dissimilar from that of US and other key western countries (Li, Cui and Lu 2014). According to Murillo and Sung (2013), the business conglomerate of Korea is known as chaebol that is famous for its exclusive organizational structure as well as administration pattern. Every chaebol is composed of several companies thus being engaged in diverse types of economic activities. However, they are all combined jointly by a vertically federal command structure controlled by the proprietor and his family members. Hyundai is considered as the major chaebol that is considered as the corporate that was initiated by Chung Ju Yung who visited Seoul as a teenager in the year 1930. After the Second World War, he developed trade relation with the US military and won construction contracts from them. Hyundai was provided the contract to build the 260 mile highway between second largest city of South Korea, Pusan as well as the capital Seoul. Hyundai was involved in the construction of overseas projects. The managerial authority of the owners is allegedly derived from his share of capitals. The major owner characteristically occupies the position of the group leadership, thus acting like a established patriarchy and authorizing control with the help of personal staff in the management of the overall chaebol group. However, the chaebol proprietor does not restrict the size of the business organization to the one that he can individually administer. Rather, he builds up a large officious structure that he dominates by making the use of his share of capital. The progression to the leadership of a chaebol is in accordance to patrimonial objectives. Chaebol mostly operates with a complicated officious decision making procedure that engages functionally dedicated offices as well as definite tasks (Choi et al. 2014). The initial organizational structures and operation of the chaebol bear a resemblance to those of the states in Korea, with which it shares a close relation. Every chaebol function as a articulate group, in severe competition with other chaebol. However, the corporate recognition of the chaebol is much weaker as compared to the business organization in Japan. According to Yanase and Limpaphayom (2015), the business groups of Japan that is mostly referred to as keiretus, is mostly identical to that of the Korean chaebol both in terms of size as well as in terms of the importance to the economy of Japan. However, both chaebol and keiretus operates on the principles quite diverse from those of their Korean counterpart. Most of the scholars distinguish keiretsu from chaebol based on their types. There are mainly two types of chaebol; the first is deals with the intermarket group while the second deals with independent groups. The intermarket group mostly deals with the engagement of diverse industrial sectors. The correlation of the member firms under this type of keiretsu is more collegial rather than hierarchical. Under such keiretsu, control and coordination is accomplished with the help of dispersed networks of presidential clubs, mutual share holdings as well as interlocking directorships (Glattfelder 2013). On the other hand, independent groups are liable to be identical to member firms of the intermarket keiretsu. Each of the intermarket keiretsu consists of a large as well as highly successful parent company as well as vertically aligned subsidiary companies. Despite some connection with Korean chaebol, the Japanese keiretsu is distinguishing for the strong networks it promotes as well as networks that work to restrain the blunt and inept appliance of authority. The ability pattern in China also diverges from that of proprietors of Korean Chaebol. In Korea, there are large hierarchically arranged sets of firms however; in China, there are mostly family firms where each firm consists of a small segment of the production chain. In Korea, the firms are directly controlled by the central holding company that is possessed by an individual or a family unit. On the other hand, the business groups in China are often conglomerates of disparate trades that are usually owned by an individual family. The intellectual layer of the Korean trade system illustrates a comparatively higher level of resemblance with that of China. The institutionalized trust in Korea is much more strongly enhanced as compared to that of China (Hasegawa and Noronha 2014). As far as management of firm is concerned, the structures of the firms in China are centralized and interdependence between managers and workers are mostly weak. As far as networks are concerned, Korean chaebol are of self-sufficient size and they also demonstrate low dependence on suppliers and distributors. Either the organizational system of the companies in Korea is characterized as disciplined or hierarchical that in turn reflects the widespread social pattern. Korea is a society that witness respect for authority and their job status is an established norm. Under the management business system in Korea, workers are expected to illustrate a high degree of loyalty towards their employer. Similarly, workers are professed to be a highly valued asset that is reflected by the professed importance of job training. On the other hand, managers are unenthusiastic to delegate to individuals who are not personally trusted that limits the complexity that is undertaken and implemented by a f irm. Management of private firms in China mostly involves direct managerial control by the family proprietors (Lu et al. 2014). As far as network is concerned, the dominant bargaining power related to chaebol dominates trade partners that mostly are small medium enterprises, which have adjusted its trade activities to individual corporate customers. On the other hand, the foreign Chinese business networks are structured hierarchically that is followed by the hierarchy of the family firm. There is mostly lack of business network in China due to limited requirement. According to Folk and Jomo (2013),intellectual protection of property is weak and as a result, the firms in China takes advantage of that to copy what they crave. Korea on the other hand, reflects corporate competition for a leading position that acts as the fundamental motivation behind many of the new investments. The adverse correlation and competition between chaebol can be exemplified by the relationship between Lucky Goldstar (LG) and Samsung as well as their ambition to dominate the electronics market in Korea. There has been low degree of al liance-based modes of incorporation in the post-war Korean business system. An increase of technological partnership between companies is mostly noticed under the Korean business system. Personal trust is critical for most of the Korean firms while building coalition with firms outside the business group. Conclusion It has been concluded that the bank of Zaibatsu merged with Taiyo Kobe bank after the year 1990 and then in the year 2002, it became associated with Sumitomo bank thus creating one of the largest financial groups in Japan. With the economic stagnation of the year 1990, a more crucial horizontal keiretsu has been formed. After 1990, zaibatsu dissolution became the major importance to the establishment of the so-called Japanese-style mixed economy. After 1990, both the chaebol Samsung and LG started flourishing among the top ten 10 companies in South Korea. The economic crisis in Japan in the late 1990s forced the companies of Japan to compete for price as well as quality by making the use of market-based systems. It can also be concluded that in South Korea, chaebol is comprised of multiple companies with robust internal transaction that are controlled by an individual enterprise. Zaibatsu is largely influences chaebol as both zaibatsu and chaebol are considered as family-owned multin ational companies. Most of the chaebol trace their origin back to the period of the occupation of Japan of South Korea. Cooperation in trade requires patient building of inter-personal trust mostly between the proprietors. However, under the management business system in Korea, workers are expected to illustrate a high degree of loyalty towards their employer. References Alba, J.D., Song, P.X. and Wang, P., 2013. Is There A Positive Association Between Merger And Acquisition And Non-Merger And Acquisition Fdi? Firm-Level Evidence From Japanese Foreign Direct Investment Into United States.The Singapore Economic Review,58(04), p.1350028. Choi, Y.R., Yoshikawa, T., Zahra, S.A. and Han, B.H., 2014. Market-oriented institutional change and RD investments: Do business groups enhance advantage?.Journal of World Business,49(4), pp.466-475. Deshpand, R., Grinstein, A., Kim, S.H. and Ofek, E., 2013. Achievement motivation, strategic orientations and business performance in entrepreneurial firms: How different are Japanese and American founders?.International Marketing Review,30(3), pp.231-252. Folk, B.C. and Jomo, K.S., 2013.Ethnic Business: Chinese Capitalism in Southeast Asia. Routledge. Glattfelder, J.B., 2013. Backbone of complex networks of corporations: The flow of control. InDecoding Complexity(pp. 67-93). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. Hasegawa, H. and Noronha, C. eds., 2014.Asian business and management: Theory, practice and perspectives. Palgrave Macmillan. Issar, G. and Navon, L.R., 2016. Just in Time (JIT). InOperational Excellence(pp. 65-67). Springer International Publishing. Li, M.H., Cui, L. and Lu, J., 2014. Varieties in state capitalism: Outward FDI strategies of central and local state-owned enterprises from emerging economy countries.Journal of International Business Studies,45(8), pp.980-1004. Lu, J., Liu, X., Filatotchev, I. and Wright, M., 2014. The impact of domestic diversification and top management teams on the international diversification of Chinese firms.International Business Review,23(2), pp.455-467. Murillo, D. and Sung, Y.D., 2013. Understanding Korean capitalism: Chaebols and their corporate governance.ESADEgeo Center for Global Economy and Geopolitics Position Paper,33. Palmer, D., 2016. Foreign Forced Labor at Mitsubishis Nagasaki and Hiroshima Shipyards: Big Business, Militarized Government, and the Absence of Shipbuilding Workers Rights in World War ii Japan.On Coerced Labor: Work and Compulsion after Chattel Slavery, p.159. Waldenberger, F., 2016. Horizontal keiretsu Defining characteristics.Routledge Handbook of Japanese Business and Management, p.35. Wang, J., 2013. The economic impact of special economic zones: Evidence from Chinese municipalities.Journal of development economics,101, pp.133-147. Yanase, N. and Limpaphayom, P., 2015. Organization Structure and Corporate Demand for Reinsurance: The Case of the Japanese Keiretsu.Journal of Risk and Insurance. Yanase, N. and Limpaphayom, P., 2015. Organization Structure and Corporate Demand for Reinsurance: The Case of the Japanese Keiretsu.Journal of Risk and Insurance. Yu, F.L.T., 2014. China's Economic Change in Entrepreneurial Perspective: Mao Zedong (Transformative Entrepreneurship) versus Deng Xiaoping (Adaptive Entrepreneurship)+.International Journal of China Studies,5(3), p.599. Zokaei, K., Lovins, H., Wood, A. and Hines, P., 2013.Creating a lean and green business system: techniques for improving profits and sustainability. CRC Press.

Managing Personal Finance Essay Example

Managing Personal Finance Essay Due to the current economy and credit card-oriented lifestyle, it is vital to understand the importance regarding management of personal finances. Having a budget, ensuring debt is being paid off, readying an emergency fund, preparing for the college education of children, and saving for retirement are all essential portions in managing personal finances.Because of the mass amount of people in debt there are a decreasing number of individuals who are prepared for retirement. Managing finances is simply being a good steward of personal income. Having a budget is an extremely important foundation to managing personal finances. Through a budget, an individual can track past purchases and costs incurred, manage how much he can spend today, and take control of his future inflows and outflows. A good budget allows spending to be kept to a minimum and helps maintain control of inflows and outflows which frequently opens up excess cash to be used elsewhere (Vohlwinkle, n. . ). Budgeting is n ot as difficult as some make it out to be. It is also advantageous because, although spending cuts may have to be made, there will be more savings and less debt to worry about. Vohlwinkle discusses the fear people have in attempting the birth of a budget: The biggest fear that most people have when creating a budget is that they will need to suddenly cut back on all of the fun spending things like the occasional coffee or dinner out, movie night, or even the trip to grandma’s for the holidays.While you may find that you do need to cut some spending after putting together a budget, without actually sitting down and creating one, it is impossible to know what expenses need to be cut, if any. (Vohlwinkle, n. d. ) Although budgeting finances can be a painful and tedious process, it is a process that should be done in order to ensure cash inflows are greater than cash outflows. The first step in creating a budget is computing total income. This includes the salary of a spouse as well as income from shares and dividends or interest on investments.Once the income is calculated, it is necessary to subtract the total expenses. The first money that should be deducted from a salary every week is the money that belongs to God. â€Å"Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce. † (Proverbs 3:9, ESV). The Lord gives the strength that is necessary to work; therefore, it is only fitting that He should get a small percentage of the paid wages in order to further his work. After the tithe is paid, it is best to move on to the major expenses, such as mortgages and car payments, and take away the minor expenses last.Expenses must include bills, food, gasoline, and any other expenses that are incurred on a monthly basis. Since expenses such as food, gasoline, and even some bills can change on a monthly basis, taking an average of these over a few months will help monitor the expenses more closely. Once the expenses are subtracted, t he computed number will be either positive or negative. A negative number suggests trouble and requires an individual to start cutting back. Negative numbers require a person to take action and control of his finances.Once the number is seen, it will be evident as to how much will need to be cut back. If the number is much larger than expected, take action immediately as opposed to worrying and becoming discouraged. By making a few small adjustments, one can easily turn a negative number positive. If minor changes are not enough to gain control of debt, it may be necessary to make a lifestyle change. Too many people live above their means; an individual who lives an extravagant lifestyle with a frugal paycheck will regret his or her unwise choices.A positive number does not mean that budgeting is being done perfectly, but it does represent income is greater than expenses. There is almost always room for improvement in any budget. When an individual determines his inflows and outflow s, he can decide how much he must spend each month and how much he should save. Because the majority of people have debt, it is necessary to discuss how much money should be put towards paying off that debt. Paying off debt is a difficult and tiresome process.Most times, this is because of people who are in debt as a result of not having money; they now find it nearly impossible to pay off debt because they still have the same income and increasing debt. Minimum payments are all many people can afford to pay. It often seems as if there is never enough money to pay bills let alone pay off debt, but saving dollars here and there can surprise an individual as to how much is accumulated when just a little money is cut in every area possible (Vohlwinkle, n. d. ). Taking little steps, one at a time, towards debt can have a massive impact over a long period of time.It is not necessary to have thousands of dollars in order to reduce debt; by cutting out a few insignificant expenses every mo nth, it is possible to save thousands of dollars in a few short years due to the severe amount of interest credit card companies and loaning companies charge (Vohlwinkle, n. d. ). Debt should be paid off as soon as possible in order to avoid high interest payments. Some people have so much debt that all they can pay is the interest, which makes it difficult for them to have a savings or retirement fund.It is important to be responsible with money; God will bless if He is shown faithfulness with which he has given. â€Å"If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? † (Luke 16:11). Saving money is an extremely important part of managing personal finances. Saving money gives an individual the ability to be financially stable in case of an emergency, to prepare for the future of his children, and to plan for his own future retirement.Having an emergency fund can be the difference between maintaining or losing a home and an entire lifestyle. The unexpected should be expected to happen at some point; experts agree that an emergency fund should carry enough money to be able to cover living expenses for three to six months. (Vohlwinkle, n. d. ). Vohlwinkle specifies the reasoning as to why three to six months is ideal: The reason you want to have three to six months of expenses saved up is that the most common reason for the need of an emergency fund is due to a sudden loss of income.If you or your spouse loses a job you still have bills to pay and it may take a few months to find suitable new employment. It is best to plan for a worst-cast scenario so that the smaller emergencies such as replacing the hot water heater that just went out will be easily covered. (Vohlwinkle, n. d. ) The unemployment rate is exceptionally high; because jobs are increasingly uncertain, it is undoubtedly necessary to have an emergency fund. Losing a job results in a massive reduction in income, and there are still monthly bi lls, mortgages, and other expenses that must be paid.Without an emergency fund, most of these bills would not get paid forcing an individual to go into debt until he found another job. The key to starting an emergency fund is simply taking the initiative to start it; everyone has to start somewhere. It will be a tedious process to save enough money for six months of living expenses, but the time will arrive when some of that money is needed. By making small payments frequently, the emergency fund total will add up. Opening up a new savings account at a bank is a great way to start saving for the emergency fund (Vohlwinkle, n. . ). It is necessary to regularly make deposits into this savings account; choose to deposit per week or month and keep committed to do so (Vohlwinkle, n. d. ). After enough money is saved up, the money that was being deposited every week or month will seem as extra cash. If children are a plan for the future, investing in the future of their lives is an excell ent way to use the excess money. Preparing for children is an exciting yet difficult process. An even more challenging process is preparing for their college education.Because children live with their parents for approximately eighteen years, their expenses are added up over an eighteen year period. However, college only lasts four years, and depending on which college they attend, it can be incredibly expensive. In order to prepare for a newborn baby, a budget process can be used. Simply approximate the child’s expenses and subtract the expenses, along with all the other expenses, from the total income of the household. If a positive number is computed, the baby is affordable; a negative number implies some cutbacks are necessary.Saving for a child’s college education is a rewarding process. To ensure a child gets a proper education, some parents offer to pay for their child’s entire education, while others propose to pay for a portion. Either way, the followin g example is extremely valuable in showing parents that they should start saving as early as possible. The following is an extremely useful example given by Vohlwinkle: Begin investing $5,000 each year when your child is 10 in an account that earns 11% annually. This would result in a total savings of over $65,000 by the time they are 18. Total money invested: $40,000.Begin investing $2,000 each year when your child is 8 in an account that earns 11% annually. This would result in a total savings of over $37,000 by the time they are 18. Total money invested: $20,000. Begin investing $3,000 each year when your child is born in an account that earns 11% annually. This would result in a total savings of over $148,000 by the time they are 18. Total money invested: $51,000. As you can see, if you begin investing as soon as possible you could save less money annually and only $11,000 more in total than if you waited 10 years and end up with $83,000 more! Vohlwinkle, n. d. ) Parents are wis e to start saving even if they do not have any children yet. If they plan to have or adopt children at any time in the future, parents would be able to save more money the earlier they start. This would ensure a child receives the education that he or she requires to go into a desired field. Planning for retirement is essential in order to ensure the necessary funds are available at the appropriate time. Retirement age varies by career. Men who work construction may not be able to work as long as an accountant due to the necessities of the job.Regardless of what age retirement is desired, saving for retirement must be done consistently and carefully. Vohlwinkle writes: If retirement seems like it is a lifetime away, planning for how you’ll spend that time can be difficult. But one thing is certain—you’ll need to have money in retirement. If you don’t plan on working in retirement, where will this money come from? Most people have three sources of income t hat work together to fund retirement: Social Security, pensions, and personal savings. (Vohlwinkle, n. d. Social Security is completely unstable and it is unknown if it will even exist in thirty years, and pension plans are rare and the benefit still only satisfies approximately twenty-five percent of pre-retirement income (Vohlwinkle, n. d. ). That leaves the responsibility to save to the retiree. 401(k) plans are a wonderful way to save money for retirement. A 401(k) plan is usually an employer sponsored plan in which the user contributes a specific amount of money each week. The employer will match that contribution and the total amount will be added to the 401(k).The money is invested and gains interest. The holder of the 401(k) chooses where he wishes to invest his money. It is irrational to put the investment all into one company as a single company, no matter how successful, still has potential to collapse. The old proverb says it all—do not put all your eggs in one ba sket; by following this guideline, it is easy to avoid a devastating loss of investments (Vohlwinkle, n. d. ). Separating investments does not allow the collapse of a single company to devastate an entire retirement fund; increasing the number of companies and asset investments made will increase eturn and decrease risk (Vohlwinkle, n. d. ). All interest accumulated in a 401(k) plan is added onto the principal amount which is ever increasing due to the holder’s contribution, the employer’s contribution, and the accrued interest. Since the principal is constantly growing, the interest is as well. In order to successfully utilize the 401(k) plan, money must be invested as early as possible. â€Å"The median household headed by a person aged 60 to 62 with a 401(k) account has less than one-quarter of what is needed in that account to maintain its standard of living in retirement† (Browning, 2011).Those who start saving late will not be able to save near as much as opposed to those who start early. The 401(k) works essentially the same as the example regarding college funds mentioned above. Even if the amount is smaller, money that is contributed earlier on in life will grow much more quickly than money contributed later. The old proverb says it all—do not put all your eggs in one basket; by following this guideline, it is easy to avoid a devastating loss of investments (Vohlwinkle, n. d. ).Separating investments does not allow the collapse of a single company to devastate an entire retirement fund; increasing the number of companies and asset investments made will increase return and decrease risk (Vohlwinkle, n. d. ). Managing Personal Finances can be a frightening thought, especially if there is a great amount of debt piled up. Like anything, controlling finances must be done a small step at a time. Whether an individual earns a six digit figure every year or fifteen thousand dollars, there is always room for improvement.Creating a b udget, paying off debt, arranging an emergency fund, organizing funds for the college education of children, and planning for retirement will all help ensure an individual lives a life managing his or her personal finances.References Vohlwinkle, J. (n. d. ). Budgeting Basics. Retrieved February 20, 2012, from Financial Planning: A Comprehensive Guide to Personal Finance Web site: http://financialplan. about. com/od/budgetingyourmoney/a/BudgetBasics. htm. Vohlwinkle, J. (n. d. ). Find Money To Pay Down Credit Card Debt.Retrieved February 20, 2012, from Financial Planning: A Comprehensive Guide to Personal Finance Web site: from http://financialplan. about. com/od/creditdebtmanagement/qt/FindMoney. htm. Vohlwinkle, J. (n. d. ). Why You Need an Emergency Fund. Retrieved February 21, 2012, from Financial Planning: A Comprehensive Guide to Personal Finance Web site: http://financialplan. about. com/od/savingmoney/a/emergencyfund. htm.

Study Guide for Albert Camuss The Fall

Study Guide for Albert Camus's The Fall Delivered by a sophisticated, outgoing, yet often suspicious narrator, Albert Camus’s The Fall employs a format that is rather uncommon in world literature. Like novels such as Dostoevsky’s Notes from Underground, Sartre’s Nausea, and Camus’s own The Stranger, The Fall is set up as a confession by a complicated main character- in this case, an exiled French lawyer named Jean-Baptiste Clamence. But The Fall- unlike these famous first-person writings- is actually a second-person novel. Clamence directs his confession at a single, well-defined listener, a â€Å"you† character who accompanies him (without ever speaking) for the duration of the novel. In the opening pages of The Fall, Clamence makes this listener’s acquaintance in a seedy Amsterdam bar known as Mexico City, which entertains â€Å"sailors of all nationalities† (4). Summary In the course of this initial meeting, Clamence playfully notes the similarities between him and his new companion: â€Å"You are my age in a way, with the sophisticated eye of a man in his forties who has seen everything, in a way; you are well dressed in a way, that is as people are in our country; and your hands are smooth. Hence a bourgeois, in a way! But a cultured bourgeois!† (8-9). However, there is much about Clamence’s identity that remains uncertain. He describes himself as â€Å"a judge-penitent,† yet doesn’t provide an immediate explanation of this uncommon role. And he omits key facts from his descriptions of the past: â€Å"A few years ago I was a lawyer in Paris and, indeed, a rather well-known lawyer. Of course, I didn’t tell you my real name† (17). As a lawyer, Clamence had defended poor clients with difficult cases, including criminals. His social life had been full of satisfactions- respect from his colleagues, affairs with many women- and his public behavior had been scrupulously courteous and polite. As Clamence sums up this earlier period: â€Å"Life, its creatures and its gifts, offered themselves to me, and I accepted such marks of homage with a kindly pride† (23). Eventually, this state of security began to break down, and Clamence traces his increasingly dark state of mind to a few specific life events. While in Paris, Clamence had an argument with â€Å"a spare little man wearing spectacles† and riding a motorcycle (51). This altercation with the motorcyclist alerted Clamence to the violent side of his own nature, while another experience- an encounter with a â€Å"slim young woman dressed in black† who committed suicide by throwing herself off a bridge- filled Clamence with a sense of â€Å"irresistible weakness (69-70). During an excursion to the Zuider Zee, Clamence describes the more advanced stages of his â€Å"fall.† At first, he began to feel intense turmoil and pangs of disgust with life, although â€Å"for some time, my life continued outwardly as if nothing had changed† (89). He then took turned to â€Å"alcohol and women† for comfort- yet only found temporary solace (103). Clamence expands upon his philosophy of life in the final chapter, which takes place in his own lodgings. Clamence recounts his disturbing experiences as a World War II prisoner of war, lists his objections to commonplace notions of law and freedom, and reveals the depth of his involvement in the Amsterdam underworld. (It turns out that Clamence keeps a famous stolen painting- The Just Judges by Jan van Eyck- in his apartment.) Clamence has resolved to accept life- and to accept his own fallen, immensely flawed nature- but has also resolved to share his troubling insights with anyone who will listen. In the final pages of The Fall, he reveals that his new profession of â€Å"judge-penitent† involves â€Å"indulging in public confession as often as possible† in order to acknowledge, judge, and do penance for his failings (139). Background and Contexts Camus’s Philosophy of Action: One of Camus’s greatest philosophical concerns is the possibility that life is meaningless- and the need (in spite of this possibility) for action and self-assertion. As Camus wrote in his tract The Myth of Sisyphus (1942), philosophical discourse â€Å"was previously a question of finding out whether or not life had to have a meaning to be lived. It now becomes clear on the contrary that it will be lived all the better if it has no meaning. Living an experience, a particular fate, is accepting it fully.† Camus then goes on to declare that â€Å"one of the only coherent philosophical positions is thus revolt. It is constant confrontation between man and his own obscurity.† Even though the Myth of Sisyphus is a classic of French Existentialist philosophy and a central text for understanding Camus, The Fall (which, after all, appeared in 1956) should not merely be taken as a fictional re-working of The Myth of Sisyphus. Clamence does revolt against his life as a Paris lawyer; however, he retreats from society and tries to find specific â€Å"meanings† in his actions in a manner that Camus might not have endorsed. Camus’s Background in Drama: According to literary critic Christine Margerrison, Clamence is a â€Å"self-proclaimed actor† and The Fall itself is Camus’s â€Å"greatest dramatic monologue.† At several points in his career, Camus worked simultaneously as a playwright and a novelist. (His plays Caligula and The Misunderstanding appeared in the mid 1940s- the same period that saw the publication of Camus’s novels The Stranger and The Plague. And in the 1950s, Camus both wrote The Fall and worked on theater adaptations of novels by Dostoevsky and William Faulkner.) However, Camus was not the only mid-century author who applied his talents to both theater and the novel. Camus’s Existentialist colleague Jean-Paul Sartre, for instance, is famous for his novel Nausea and for his plays The Flies and No Exit. Another of the greats of 20th century experimental literature- Irish author Samuel Beckett- created novels that read a little like â€Å"dramat ic monologues† (Molloy, Malone Dies, The Unnamable) as well as oddly-structured, character-driven plays (Waiting for Godot, Krapp’s Last Tape). Amsterdam, Travel, and Exile: Although Amsterdam is one of Europe’s centers of art and culture, the city takes on a rather sinister character in The Fall. Camus scholar David R. Ellison has found several references to disturbing episodes in Amsterdam’s history: first, The Fall reminds us that â€Å"the commerce linking Holland to the Indies included trade not just in spices, foodstuffs, and aromatic wood, but also in slaves; and second, the novel takes place after â€Å"the years of World War II in which the Jewish population of the city (and of the Netherlands as a whole) was subject to persecution, deportation, and ultimate death in Nazi prison camps.† Amsterdam has a dark history, and exile to Amsterdam allows Clamence to face his own unpleasant past. Camus declared in his essay â€Å"The Love of Life† that â€Å"what gives value to travel is fear. It breaks down a kind of inner dà ©cor in us. We can’t cheat any more- hide ourselves away behin d the hours in the office or at the plant.† By going into living abroad and breaking his earlier, soothing routines, Clamence is forced to contemplate his deeds and face his fears. Key Topics Violence and Imagination: Although there is not much open conflict or violent action directly displayed in The Fall, Clamence’s memories, imaginings, and turns of imagery add violence and viciousness to the novel. After an unpleasant scene during a traffic jam, for instance, Clamence imagines pursuing a rude motorcyclist, â€Å"overtaking him, jamming his machine against the curb, taking him aside, and giving him the licking he had fully deserved. With a few variations, I ran off this little film a hundred times in my imagination. But it was too late, and for several days I chewed a bitter resentment† (54). Violent and disturbing fantasies help Clamence to communicate his dissatisfaction with the life he leads. Late in the novel, he compares his feelings of hopeless and perpetual guilt to a special kind of torture: â€Å"I had to submit and admit my guilt. I had to live in the little-ease. To be sure, you are not familiar with that dungeon cell that was called the litt le-ease in the Middle Ages. In general, one was forgotten there for life. That cell was distinguished from others by ingenious dimensions. It was not high enough to stand up in nor yet wide enough to lie down in. One had to take an awkward manner and live on the diagonal† (109). Clamence’s Approach to Religion: Clamence does not define himself as a religious man. However, references to God and Christianity play a major part in Clamence’s manner of speaking- and help Clamence to explain his changes in attitude and outlook. During his years of virtue and altruism, Clamence took Christian kindliness to grotesque proportions: â€Å"A very Christian friend of mine admitted that one’s initial feeling on seeing a beggar approach one’s house is unpleasant. Well, with me it was worse: I used to exult† (21). Eventually, Clamence finds yet another use for religion that is admittedly awkward and inappropriate. During his fall, the lawyer made references â€Å"to God in my speeches before the court†- a tactic that â€Å"awakened mistrust in my clients† (107). But Clamence also uses the Bible to explain his insights about human guilt and suffering. For him, Sin is part of the human condition, and even Christ on the cross is a figure of guilt: â€Å"He knew he was not altogether innocent. If he did not bear the weight of the crime he was accused of, he had committed others- even though he didn’t know which ones† (112). Clamence’s Unreliability: At several points in The Fall, Clamence acknowledges that his words, actions, and apparent identity are of questionable validity. Camus’s narrator is very good at playing different, even dishonest roles. Describing his experiences with women, Clamence notes that â€Å"I played the game. I knew they didn’t like one to reveal one’s purpose too quickly. First, there had to be conversation, fond attentions, as they say. I wasn’t worried about speeches, being a lawyer, nor about glances, having been an amateur actor during my military service. I often changed parts, but it was always the same play† (60). And later in the novel, he asks a series of rhetorical questions- â€Å"Don’t lies eventually lead to the truth? And don’t all my stories, true or false, tend toward the same conclusion?†- before concluding that â€Å"authors of confessions write especially to avoid confessing, to tell nothing of wha t they know† (119-120). It would be wrong to assume that Clamence has given his listener nothing but lies and fabrications. Yet it is possible that he is freely mixing lies and truth to create a convincing â€Å"act†- that he strategically using a persona to obscure particular facts and feelings. A Few Discussion Questions Do you think that Camus and Clamence have similar political, philosophical, and religious beliefs? Are there any major differences- and if so, why do you think Camus decided to create a character whose views are so at odds with his own?In some important passages in The Fall, Clamence introduces violent images and intentionally shocking opinions. Why do you think Clamence is dwelling on such disconcerting topics? How is his willingness to make his listener uneasy tied to his role as a â€Å"judge-penitent?†Exactly how reliable is Clamence, in your opinion? Does he ever seem to exaggerate, to obscure the truth, or to introduce obvious falsehoods? Find a few passages where Clamence seems especially elusive or unreliable, and keep in mind that Clamence may become significantly more (or significantly less) reliable from passage to passage.Re-imagine The Fall told from a different perspective. Would Camus’s novel be more effective as a first-person account by Clamence, withou t a listener? As a straightforward, third-person description of Clamence’s life? Or is The Fall supremely effective in its present form? Note on Citations: All page numbers refer to Justin OBriens translation of The Fall (Vintage International, 1991).

5 Great Tips for Business Writing - Proofeds Writing Tips

5 Great Tips for Business Writing - Proofeds Writing Tips 5 Great Tips for Business Writing Business writing includes everything from dry internal reports to snazzy website copy. But while different situations call for different writing styles, we have a few tips that apply to any type of business writing. Check them out below to find out how they could benefit your company! 1. Tailor Writing to an Audience As mentioned above, business writing is a broad category. This means you should always write for a specific audience. So whether it is a technical report for those in the know or a light-hearted press release for the public, think about who you are writing for and adapt the tone and language to suit. 2. Beware Buzzwords and Jargon Business buzzwords and jargon are not necessarily bad. Sometimes you need to use technical language to communicate something complicated. But take care not to go too far! Packing your writing with jargon will make it difficult to read, especially if you aren’t writing for a specialist audience. And buzzwords can be alienating. It is far better to keep things simple by using everyday language wherever possible. And if you need to use jargon, explain exactly what it means when you introduce the term. 3. Help Your Reader Find Key Details Life is busy. And sometimes that means you don’t have time to read the small print. If you want to make sure your readers don’t miss important information, then, you have to make it easy for them. If you are writing for an internal audience, you may want to include an executive summary. This lets you summarize key details in an easy-to-read fashion, while giving full information in the rest of the document. If writing for a wider audience, use formatting (e.g., bold or italics) and headings to help your readers find the most important information even while skim reading. 4. Keep It Short Write concisely wherever possible. After all, if time is money in the business world, you can’t assume everyone will read the entire 283-page report you sent. So keep it short where you can. If you are writing a longer document, though, always give the main points first. This will ensure that even busy readers see what you need them to. 5. Always Proofread! This is quite possibly the most important tip of all. And we’re not just saying that because we offer an outstanding business proofreading service. Whether or not you choose to work with us (you should), checking your business writing for errors is essential all of the time. Errors in business writing will give a bad impression to customers, clients, and colleagues alike. They can even cost a lot of money if you’re unlucky! And this makes proofreading worth the effort.

Revise essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Revise - Essay Example This bothered me sometimes until the bigger picture, their future became clearer. Raising children off the reservation can be both beneficial and constructive depending on the situations. In the beginning, I questioned myself why I was doing this? Was it to rebel from a community that I did not feel connected to or was I thinking about the importance of my kids life? Keeping them off the reservation was not endangering them or making them culturally insensitive. I found it to be protective and looking at the well being of their future. Many would disagree with me and say I was selfish because one should be respectful of his or her culture. Calling my children names, frowning at them and not being allowed to participate in certain activities they wanted were some of the problems my children faced for not being fully involved within their tribe. I thought this was not crippling their opportunities, but allowing them to see what else was out in the world and not in the reservation. Most Native Americans find it oaky not to be educated; and instead opt to work for their Tribal Casino and Resort. This was not going to be the situation for my children. During my kids youth was apparently the time when Native American education was not taken seriously. At this point, the damage on the youth revolved around things such as addictions, lack of world experiences, good healthcare, and crime. Originally, we had opted to raise our kids in the reservation because it was convenient for them to attend tribal schools where it was inexpensive and sometimes had free childcare. The older the children got, it became obvious their education had to be a priority in our lives; thus, we decided to move. With graduation rates at an all-time low and test scores getting lower, it was evident this was the best move my children. I wanted my children to have the opportunity to learn and have new experiences. My kids’

Palliative care for Enduring Conditions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Palliative care for Enduring Conditions - Essay Example The philosophy of palliative care is firmly rooted on improving or maintaining the quality of life to the very end. It is concerned with making the last few days of the patient’s life as comfortable as possible. The World Health Organization points out that palliative care is â€Å"the active total care of patients whose disease is not responsive to curative treatment†. It mostly involves the control of pain and other symptoms (psychological, social, and spiritual problems) often associated with terminally ill patients. The philosophy of palliative care in the current specialised setting is about paying equal focus on the physiological as well and the psychological issues of a terminally ill patient. Palliative care is rooted in the hospice movement, mainly on the care of the dying cancer patient. According to the World Health Organization, it is based on the principles of affirming life, viewing dying as a normal process. It neither hastens nor postpones death; it provides relief from pain and other symptoms; it integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care; and it offers a support system for the patient and his family until the patient’s death.

Muet preparation Essay Example for Free

Muet preparation Essay Task A – Individual presentation Given the situation, you now have:  · 2 minutes to prepare your responses  · 2 minutes to present Tips:  · Study the scenario or topic given carefully  · Double check which candidate you are (A, B, C, D) to make sure you don’t prepare another candidate’s speech  · Make sure you don’t run out of topic  · Prepare 2 to 3 points to present on  · You MUST agree with the point that is given to you (you can disagree or favor another point in Task B)  · Make full use of the 2 minutes that you have. Don’t go less than 1 minute 45 seconds / more than 2 minutes.  · If you don’t have as many points to speak about, talk slower.  · Don’t relax after your turn! Keep an attentive ear to what the other candidates are talking about.  · Write down the other students’ answers as they present their 2-minute speech (to prepare yourself for Task B) Sample answer: Candidate A Hi, a very good morning to the examiners and my fellow friends. As we are talking about how a person’s character can be influenced by another person, the persons whom I think have the most influence in a person’s life are – parents. There are three reasons why I think so. Firstly, parents are the people whom know us since birth. We become like the person whom we spend the most time with. Parents are the people whom we see every day from the moment we are born, till the day we are adults. Hence, very naturally, they become the people whom we look up to and start imitating the way they talk, act, and even think. My second reason is because parents are the first educators to their child before anybody else. Table manners and basic etiquettes are taught at home, by the parents. This gives an influence so vast that we ourselves fail to recognize it sometimes Thirdly, parents are the ones who impart values into our lives. Values are assets which we hold on to for the rest of our lives – and this is the greatest influence of all. Values are what we make our decisions upon, and it is what shapes our character.

Artificial Insemination and the Rights of Women, Men, and Children Essa

Women have adamantly battled for political and social reproductive rights since, in particular artificial insemination, have become mainstream phenomena in the recent decade with a focus on rights of women. In fact, doctors have experimented with the procedure for nearly a century. However, with the women ¹s liberation movement of the 1970s, physician-assisted and self-insemination has become more and more popular among heterosexual career women and lesbians. The Origins of Artificial Insemination She was a Quaker. The wife of a merchant. The infertility patient of Dr. William Pancoast. She was a woman whose name was never recorded. Dr. Pancoast, a professor at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, had already examined and tested her numerous times. Finally, he discovered that she was fertile and that the problem was her husband ¹s;; There were no sperm. Pancoast (or maybe it was one of his students) had an idea. He called her in. He just wanted to examine her once more, he told her. The woman lay on the table as she had been told to do. Pancoast ¹s six medical students-all young men- stood around her body. Pancoast anesthetized the woman with chloroform. He took the receptacle into which one of his students had masturbated. With a hard rubber syringe, he inserted the student ¹s semen into her uterus. He then plugged her cervix with gauze. When she awoke, he did not tell her what he had done. He never told her. Nine months later, she bore a son. It was 1884. This was the first reported human artificial insemination with donor semen. It was a rape. (Corea, 12) As explained by the above excerpt from The Mother Machine, artificial insemination is not a recent technological breakthrough. The procedure among huma... ...n under the notion that reproductive technologies will ensure conception of a perfect child. If the child is born with a congenital defect or is of the wrong sex, the parents present feelings of disappointment, which is often reflected in the rearing of the child. (Blank) Moreover, parents treat their children as more fragile that other children in their nuclear family conceived by natural means, and tend to be overprotective of him or her. Works Cited Blank, Robert. Human Reproduction, Emerging Technologies, and Conflicting Rights Congressional Quarterly: Washington D.C., 1995. Corea, Gena. The Mother Machine : Reproductive Technologies from Artificial Insemination to Artificial Wombs New York : Harper & Row, 1985. Daniels, Ken R.  ³Information Sharing in Semen Donation: The Views of Donors ² Social Science & Medicine v. 44 no5 (March 1997) p. 673-80

Goodnight Mister Tom Essay

In Michelle Magorians cute and heart warming novel â€Å" Goodnight Mister Tom† the protagonist Willie experiences dramatic changes and exciting if not terrifying events throughout the course of the story. He discovers warmth and kindness unlike anything he has ever known. This love mainly comes from his adopted father Mister Tom and his friend Zach. Willie is overwhelmed at the diversity from his life in London. After being with them he becomes happier, healthier and learns to trust and feel secure in his new home, knowing that Mister Tom and his friends will always be there with him. Willie experiences warmth and kindness right from when he arrives at Mister Tom’s house in Little Weirwold. When he meets Mister Tom he appears thinly clad, underfed and covered with painful bruises. He seems a quiet and timid creature living in a chasm of fear, believing he is full of sin. When he is first at Mister Tom’s Willie is desperate to behave well, terrified of beatings and punishment he thinks he will receive because of his ‘wickedness’. â€Å"‘I must be good,’ he whispered urgently. ‘I must be good. ’ †. Having seen Willies bruises and realising he came from an abusive home Mister Tom puts in great effort to give him a happy, healthy life. He acquires warm comfortable clothing for Willie, unlike his current threadbare garments and gives him nourishing food, such as specially cooked breakfasts and tea. He provides Willie with books and reads to him each night much to Willie’s enjoyment. Willie is disappointed to not be in the same class as his friends because he cannot read and write, he is humiliated by this, but Mister Tom helps him to learn and he improves and progresses greatly. Someone else who introduces Willie to love and friendship is Zach. In â€Å"Goodnight Mister Tom† Zach is the outgoing, flamboyant character. Upon their meeting Zach declares himself to be Willie’s friend. The two start to spend more and more time together. Zach provides Willie with fun and support. He makes jokes which amuse Willie greatly and encourages him to do things like develop his artistic talent. Because of Mr Tom’s and Zach’s kindness Willie begins to trust Mister Tom, his friends and the world around him. One way this begins is when Mister Tom goes to the local doctor as he is concerned about Willies health- he is frequently vomiting and bedwetting, suffering from malnutrition. While he is overcoming this Willie is quite embarrassed, but Mister Tom is merely patient with him, changing his bedding without a complaint. Willie is quiet about all of this, but is very surprised at Mister Tom’s generosity. He begins to ask more questions, (something his mother would have disapproved of) such as â€Å"Will you help me? and to talk more to people especially Mister Tom. Willie becomes less scared and shy, and is warming towards Mister Tom. â€Å"Willie gave him an awkward smile. † Another example is when Willie encounters Zach. At first Willie is reluctant and afraid to speak to him. But when Zach is good to him Willie finds the courage to start to talk to him more and more and he begins to blend some of Zach’s traits into his own. Willie soon meets more children and is able to form a small circle of friendship with them. †¦ with the knowledge that he, Willie Beech had survived a whole day with four other people of his own age† Willies new life in Little Weirwold is diverse from his experiences in London. In London Willies life is miserable. He is a child who is physically and emotionally abused by his violent and religious mother. His behaviour at the start of the novel is a result of his upbringing by his mother who inflicts him with severe punishments using excuses such as â€Å"If you do such a thing you will go to hell†. Willie has never really known friends before and is astonished when Zach declares he wants to be Willie’s. â€Å"No one had ever said that they liked him. † At school he is overwhelmed by the fact that the teachers and children support and care for him. The teachers from his school in London showed no interest in helping or liking him. â€Å"No but my teacher didn’t like me much† Throughout the novel Willie develops a greater character because of the events he experiences and the people he meets.

The Mega Manufacturing

Mega Manufacturing is a manufacturer of sports shoes for men and women. They are investigating each department in order to cut back on spending in order to eliminate wastes of resources. One potential waste is coming from the cutting department. The waste of material is costing the company monitory resources that could further benefit the company if allocated elsewhere. Several solutions have been discovered with the cutting process but if the problem were to be solve d there is both a salary saving and the elimination of waste, in this particular department. However the solution lies with the employees of this department and the solution will cost some of them their jobs. The variables effecting the disclosure of this information vary from one's need for monitory income, to the esteem of the position. Management is facing several possible decisions that include employee employment assurance to cost savings and company bottom line figures. Their decisions are founded on management decisions, employee motivations and resistance to innovations and the notion of getting these resistant employees to adopt the innovations. First, the management decisions regarding the cutting process and the problems that are associated with them. The notion that the skilled workers of the cutting department are aware of a solution to the problem with the breaking dies indicates that there is a solution to the problem. On the standpoint of the company, investigation into the proper use and successful completion of the cut using the die needs to be resolved. The die eliminates wastage and will speed up productivity of the cutting process. It will also make the individual machine operator more efficient which will conclude with the elimination of several positions may allocated more resources previously spent on employee salaries. This cost savings will free up allocations previously spent on overhead and allocated to other departments that may increase spending in order to increase sales, or add more to the stockholders bottom line. As a machine operator aware of this notion that relinquishing this information could cost him/her their job, there needs to be some cause for hesitation. The workers are paid on an hourly base so the increase of efficiency will also allow management the ability to cut hours, which will also hurt the workers. If faced with this dilemma I would have to first find out if the solution the breaking dies were legit. Because of the two-month time delay in the manufacturing of the dies I also have to worry about the productivity of the department on the half of the workers if future layoffs were in sight. I would also have to know if the cost savings would be passed on the consumer and how these variables will effect sales. If demand for the product were to increase there may be no need for lay offs. However if there was a need to make cuts in the workforce there would be need to evaluate each individual on the grounds of seniority and skill level to insure proper staffing of the department and explore options of moving personal to other departments. So my conclusion to the dilemma facing this question has to many variables but I have explored decisions with regards to time and company proposals of use of the freed resources. There are two motivating factors that our cutters face in the dilemma with regards to the die cutting information they include the following: Maslows Hierarchy of Needs, and Herzberg's Two- factor Theory. First, Maslow's Hierarchy of needs. The worker is at a job that provides substance for himself and possibly a family. The information and innovation that the die implantation brings may disrupt his/her ability to provide so without so assurance of the continued employment and income potential; the worker will not relinquish the information needed for successful inauguration of the die cutting process. However, if that assurance were provide their would be increased productivity in the department and successful integration of the project will fill Maslows notion that people thrive for accomplishment, and the efficiency of the department will bring this idea to reality. There may also be negative connotations that may be brought about As well. If there were that worker who was fearful for their job might relinquish this vital information to management for assured employment, this also demonstrates Maslows basic survival needs theory. Second is Herzbergs two-factor theory, called dissatisfies or hygiene factors. They include such notions of working condition, benefits recognition and possible promotional opportunities. The employee is unwilling to do anything that may jeopardize their livelihood. Implication of this process will result in lay offs that may damage this security. This will also pose a threat to the workers acceptance among peers. If layoffs are inevitable there may develop groups within the department of loyal skilled labors who pose a greater chance of employment after the downsizing. This is a possible threat even if the project is just in consideration, which may impose productivity problems while implication is in the process, and future problems if the project is discarded due to the already imposed loyalty among the divided department. There is also the factor if employees resistance to change with the implication of the new cutting process. There are several factors of habit, security, economic factors, fear of the unknown and lastly selective information processing that influence these factors of resistance. Employees develop habits in the work place that become routine and habitual and allow the worker to become part of the department and allow the worker develop routines that increase productivity. Security issues factor in the employee's unwillingness to change, in fear of loosing their jobs. Economic factors develop when the worker fears that change will lower their income, tying into the security concerns. Fear of the unknown indicates that humans are unwilling to change when the ends of the means is unknown. Selective information processing is the individual perception of the relevance of the change. If the individual feels that the change is unnecessary they are reluctant to change.

Infant Observation Essay Essays

Infant Observation Essay Essays Infant Observation Essay Paper Infant Observation Essay Paper Physical Development SG spent most of the clip the observation was done asleep. When SG was awake though. a few experiments were conducted to prove her physiological reactions. SG showed consistent marks of every physiological reaction except the Stepping. and Tonic cervix physiological reaction. SG was non able to keep her caput up independently yet. and didn’t show any marks of other motor development mileposts ( Berk 2010. 107. ) SG’s eating wonts seemed to be on a agenda with her kiping wonts every bit good. SG was being bottle Federal. She ate shortly after the observation began and awoke once more shortly before the observation ended. Cognitive Development â€Å"Piaget believed that babies and yearlings think with their eyes. ears. custodies. and other sensorimotor equipment† ( Berk 2010. 152. ) On Piaget’s Sensorimotor Stage. SG would be classified in sub phase two. This categorization was based on the manner SG would open her oral cavity for a bottle and a conciliator. Besides when SG awoke and needed bottle she would shout until she saw her female parent enter the room. SG’s linguistic communication development merely consisted of weeping and cooing. The baby seemed to merely shout when she needed a diaper alteration or to be fed. Social and Personality Development SG seemed to overall be a happy babe. During the observation the baby showed no marks of gripes. The female parent and male parent of SG were really caring and provided a good stable place for her. SG was non neglected by neither the female parent nor male parent. Both parents seemed to be patient and loving towards the baby. SG would shout when she needed to be fed or have her nappy changed and her female parent would alter it and comfort her weeping. SG was fed twice during the observation. Once at the beginning by her female parent. and subsequently on during the observation by SG’s uncle. The baby took the bottle good when it was given by the female parent. Opposed to when SG’s uncle tried to feed her. she didn’t take the bottle so good at first. SG’s uncle had merely seen her twice earlier. The fact that SG struggled to take the bottle from her uncle shows marks of Erickson’s theory of Trust V misgiving. â€Å"Basic trust versus misgiving consequences in trust when the kid receives sympathetic and loving attention. The leery babe can non number on the kindness and compassion of others. so she protects herself by retreating from people. † ( Berk 2010. 184 ) Important Information learned By detecting Infant SG. I realized that although the parents were demoing a batch of love and compassion by keeping SG they besides may hold deferred some of her motor accomplishments. A kid must be given the chance to construct strength and research their environment. It seemed that they were â€Å"suffocating† her in a manner. Not leting her to develop as rapidly. Which is non needfully a bad thing because she’s a babe. but harmonizing to the text edition SG seems to be a small slow in the developmental procedure. Mention Berk. L. E. ( 2010 ) . Development through the Lifespan. 5th erectile dysfunction. Allyn A ; Bacon.

Teach Reading With Word Families

Teach Reading With Word Families An emphasis on sounding out words with isolated phonemes often leads students to dread reading and think of decoding as some sort of mystical power. Children naturally look for patterns in things, so to make reading easier, teach them to search for predictable patterns in words. When a student knows the word cat, he can pick out the pattern with mat, sat, fat, etc.   Teaching patterns through word families- rhyming words- facilitates fluency, giving students more self-confidence and a willingness to use prior knowledge to decode new words. When students can recognize the patterns in word families, they can quickly write/name members of the family and use those patterns to nail down more words. Using Word Families Flash cards, and thrill and drill work to a certain extent, but providing your students with a variety of activities keeps them engaged and increases the likelihood that they will generalize the skills they acquire. Rather than using worksheets that can turn students with disabilities off (demanding the use of fine motor skills), try art projects and games to introduce word families. Art Projects Artistic word sorts with seasonal themes capture kids imaginations and use their enthusiasm for a favorite holiday to introduce and reinforce word families. Paper Bags and Word Families:  Print a variety of related words, then ask your students to cut them apart and put them in bags labeled with the corresponding word families. Turn them into trick or treat bags with crayons or cutouts (or buy some at the dollar store) and use them as a centerpiece in your classroom before Halloween.  Or draw Santas sack for Christmas, and label them with a word family. Then instruct students to sort words written on presents cut from construction paper into the appropriate sacks.   Art Project Sorts:  Draw or print Easter baskets and label each with a word family. Ask students to write associated words on Easter egg cutouts, then glue them to the corresponding basket. Display the word family baskets on the wall. Christmas Presents:  Wrap tissue boxes in Christmas paper, leaving the opening at the top exposed. Draw or print Christmas tree ornaments shapes and write words on each one. Ask the students to cut and decorate the ornaments, then drop them into the proper gift box. Games Games engage students, encourage them to interact appropriately with their peers, and give them an entertaining platform on which to build skills.   Build Bingo cards with words from a word family, then call out the words until someone fills all of their squares. Occasionally insert a word that doesnt belong in that particular family and see if your students can identify it. You can include a free space on the Bingo cards, but dont allow students to use it for a word that doesnt belong to that family. Word ladders use the same idea. Following the pattern of Bingo, a caller reads the words and the players cover steps on their word ladders. The first student to cover all of the words on the ladder wins.

CREATING AND STARTING A NEW BUSINESS VENTURE Essay

CREATING AND STARTING A NEW BUSINESS VENTURE - Essay Example We will focus on selling wine directly to the customers and also they can order the product through telephone and our website. During the initial stage, my agency will concentrate only on sales and marketing of wines. We will make a commitment of offering innovative services to our customers. They can get wine cases delivered to their homes or party areas and offices. We will offer free delivery service to all customer orders irrespective of the quantity or value of the order. Our main strategy in business is to evolve a membership scheme for our customers on yearly, quarterly or monthly basis. The customers can become members of our club and our membership will be categorized into three types i.e. platinum, gold and silver. The members will be issued with a card through which they can place the orders and they will get yearly dividend. We will get the products supplied through several manufactures so that we can meet the personalized requirement of each customer and sell through our outlets and other sellers and restaurants. We intend to start our wine shop in London because of the ever growing demand for wine in this area. At the initial stage of our business, we will concentrate only on sales and after getting a market share we will try to produce our own brand apart from selling vintage wine of a specific group of elite clientele. Our aim will be to provide the best quality wine from good wine producers across the globe at a reasonable price in London and also to facilitate free any time delivery to attract large volume of customers. From a market survey it has been revealed that the marketability of wine in the London city and its other parts is quite high, especially in the case of vintage wines. There are a lot of clubs, restaurants and other organizations where wine is consumed in large quantity. Most of the

Applied ethics ( ethics in marketing) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Applied ethics ( ethics in marketing) - Essay Example The theory emphasizes the need for people to learn how to break bad habits of character for example greed or anger (Chonko, & Hunt, 1985). The advertisement I choose from the news is on the Embassy Cigarettes. On the theory of deontological, the company marketing has the obligation to adhering to the moral rules. This implies that when marketing this brand of cigarettes, they should not give any misleading information about the product. Marketers must clearly indicate the contents that have been used to make the cigarettes on the packet. The contents indicated must genuine, only those that were used without any additional materials or omitting some of the ingredients. This a moral ethic as the consumer gets to know what was used in the making of that product and based on that information, consumers will make decisions. When all the content is genuinely on the packet, the user will read through that information and based on it, they will be able to decide whether to buy it or not. Marketers must ensure that the information they display is not misleading to the product consumer (Gibson, 2000). The marketers of the Embassy Cigarettes must focus on the second theory of marketing ethics, the teleology theory. Based on their advertisement, the marketers should consider what action their decision might have to the consumer after using the product. The teleology theory emphasizes that the company has the obligation of taking care of the customer. The product should not affect the user after using it, due to the false information given to it. For example, if the marketers omit to include an ingredient used in the manufacture of the cigarette on the packet, it is not ethically correct. This because a consumer will make a wrong decision in case the product consist an ingredient that causes complications to their health. When they buy and use the product, they are sure

How might an anthropologist analyse a mainstream film Essay

How might an anthropologist analyse a mainstream film - Essay Example The depiction of the characters in the movie is not only racist in more ways than one, it is also extremely sexist. It takes historically inaccurate facts and places the burden of a sexist society upon the tribes of America. The vision that the director and the makers of the movie endorse is extremely problematic and make for disturbing viewing when looked through with a postcolonial and feminist approach. The dissection of the movie in this paper shall then proceed with the gaze of an anthropologist. Another factor that shall be looked into is the fact that Gibson’s movie was a mainstream one and hence factors in popular notions regarding other cultures. This then brings in the elements of reception and the cultural attitudes that are prevalent in the American and also global population. What sections of the population are targeted is also something that needs to be discussed here. This paper shall seek to look at these elements of the debate and also a psychoanalytic approac h into the understanding of why certain races are depicted as they are in popular culture. However, there is another side to this debate. The changes that are introduced into the idea of the Mayans represent the idea of difference between the city and the forest within Mayan culture. The movie is then an indictment of Mayan elite culture that according to Gibson had degenerated into a set of mindless rituals. The city becomes the center of all forms of evil that Gibson associates with Mayan culture. This is then contrasted with the culture that is prevalent within the geographical confines of the village. This village is then the site of family and bonding between different members of the same society. It is a self-sufficient unit that is understood to be a space where traditional aspects of Mayan life are followed without there being a corruption of these ways. There is however, also the presence of technology in the form of traps and other devices that smoothen the life of the peo ple in the villages. There is thus, an endorsement of the idea of the â€Å"noble savage† as Jean Jacques Rousseau thought of it. It discussed the idea of man in a pure state which made him not merely a savage but also a noble one that was purer than the man who had been corrupted by civilization (Basic Concept: Primitivism and the Noble Savage). Throughout the movie, aspects of Mayan culture are denigrated and the only character whose perspective is taken for a large part of the movie is that of the protagonist, Jaguar Paw. The movie traces the life that this character leads where a process of colonization takes place between different tribes within America. The fickleness of power is made clear in this kind of transfer of power takes place very frequently. One of the people who were met by Jaguar Paw is later seen as a captive within a matter of a few days. All of this leads to the series of human sacrifices that take place at the Mayan temple in an effort to appease the Ma yan god Kukulkan. The degeneration of the culture of the elite and those that live in the city are talked of in this movie. The connection between Jaguar Paw and the nature of his homeland is repeatedly stressed. This can also be seen in the way in which the forest decimates the people of the city who seek to kill Jaguar Paw. The connection between Jaguar Paw and his homeland’

Naked Eye Single Tube Osmotic Fragility Test

Naked Eye Single Tube Osmotic Fragility Test The effectiveness of one tube osmotic fragility screening in detecting BTT was first introduced by Kattamis C. in 1981.(56) NESTROFT is the rapid simple and cost effective screening test. 2.15.1 Principle The principle of NESTROFT is based on the limit of hypotonicity that the red cell can withstand. There is a pronounced decrease in osmotic fragility of red cells in ÃŽÂ ²-thalassemia(57) Cells with a decreased surface/volume ratio, have a limited capacity to expand in low osmolarity solutions and lyse (rupture) at a higher concentration of sodium chloride than do normal biconcave red cells. Therefore, thalassaemic cells that are hypochromic and fLatter have a greater capacity to expand and thus have decreased osmotic fragility. (58) 2.15.2 Clinical Implications The different saline concentration is used in NESTROFT test to detect spherocytosis and BTT. Positive test is due to reduced osmotic fragility of red cells at 0.36% buffered saline. Manglani M et al in 1997 studied 165 cases (with MCV Recent published data has shown that the NSTROFT can be a very useful screening tool for ÃŽÂ ²-thalassemia Trait. (5, 63-66) Different studies show that NESTROFT with 0.36% saline could detect 96-100% of heterozygotes with ÃŽÂ ²-thalassemia. Study published in Indian J Pathol Microbiol, 2002 concludes NSTROFT to be 92.5% sensitive and 95.2% specific for screening of red cell microcytosis.(67) The test proves to be simple, cheap, easy to perform and adaptable for mass screening coming close to an ideal screening test. According to a recent study conducted at PNS Shifa Hospital Karachi, NESTROFT has a Positive Predictive Value of 85.38% and Negative Predictive Value of 97.66%, this correlates to international published data. The diagnostic accuracy was 94.6 % (63) NESTROFT done with 0.36 % buffered saline solution provides more accurate results compared to the other concentrations tested.(5) Routine use of haematological data from automated cell counters may complement the result s of the NSTROFT.(64) 2.16 Supravital Stains Supravital stains are a group of special stains for demonstration of intracellular inclusions in the living tissues. Common supravital stains used are methylene blue, new methylene blue, brilliant cresyl blue (BCB), methyl violet, crystal violet and azure B. Supravital stains in thalassemia are done for the demonstration of reticulocytes and Hb H inclusions as and when indicated. In thalassaemia carrier screening reticulocyte count does not have a diagnostic value. However in the detection of ÃŽÂ ±-thalassaemia, especially Hb H disease, the brilliant cresyl blue stain will detect the characteristic Hb H inclusion bodies. Supravital stains (brilliant cresyl blue or new-methylene blue) are able to stain residual mRNA in immature red blood cells. There are now several automated electronic cell counters able to perform a reticulocyte count using specific RNA staining.(68) Reticulocyte numbers and maturation levels have been studied in different haemoglobinopathies and the results have been correlated with the degree of ineffective erythropoiesis. Laura C. et al in 2003 studied 219 samples from patients with Sickle Beta-thalassemia (n=7), HbSC disease (n=11), BTT (n=33) and IDA (n=47) and non-anaemic individuals(n=60). They found patients with HbS trait (0.83%), IDA (1.18%) and BTT (1.53%) showed Reticulocyte parameters similar to non-anaemic group (1.18%). A non-responsive bone marrow does not release reticulocytes in sufficient numbers to compensate for the degree anaemia. The authors concluded that the absolute number and immaturity fraction were higher in BTT than normal individuals, but without statistical significance.(69) 2.17 Haemoglobin Electrophoresis Hemoglobin electrophoresis (also called Hgb electrophoresis), is a test that measures the different types of hemoglobin in the blood. The method used is called electrophoresis, a process that causes movement of particles in an electric field, resulting in formation of bands that separate toward one end or the other in the field. 2.17.1 Types of Electrophoresis 2.17.1.1 SDS-PAGE SDS-PAGE (Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis) is a common type of electrophoresis used for analyzing proteins, which separates proteins according to their size. The SDS is a protein denaturing detergent that causes unfolding of protein molecule. The detergent binds to the polypeptide in a 1:1 ratio with each segment of the protein to give it a charge. The movement of protein polypeptides through the gel occurs at different rates depending on size. 2.17.1.2 Agarose Gels Agarose gels electrophoresis is used for separation of RNA and DNA molecules. Like SDS-PAGE, this separates the molecules based on charge and size. DNA molecules are negatively charged, so they move through the gel quickly depending on size. Smaller DNA fragments move more quickly than larger ones due to friction resistance. 2.17.1.3 Electrofocusing Electrofocusing analyze the charge and pH values of proteins. A container is filled with a gel solution that has an increasing pH gradient. The amino acids that form polypeptides have different acidic or basic charges. The protein travels through the gel, obtaining or losing protons depending on its charge. As the protein particle moves through the gel, it eventually becomes neutral and gets stuck in an isoelectric position. 2.17.1.4 Capillary Capillary electrophoresis is a method similar to SDS-PAGE. It separates molecules based on their charge and mass. Molecules are placed in rows called capillaries filled with conductive, electrolyte fLuid. The analytes move in a speed relative to their charge and mass. This method is an older technique introduced in the 1960s. SDS-PAGE is usually preferred in labs. 2.17.1.5 Native Gels Native gels are similar to SDS-PAGE, except the detergent (SDS) is not used to denature proteins. Native gels are only able to separate proteins up to 2,000 kDa in size. Because the proteins are left folded, the dyes used are also different than SDS-PAGE. Hemoglobin electrophoresis is the method for identification and quantification of variant Hbs. Electrophoretic methods have been developed that allow for separation at alkaline pH 8.4 on cellulose acetate and at acidic pH 6.2 on agarose gels. These provide a clear background, allowing for quantification of the Hb present by densitometric scanning.(47) Cellulose acetate electrophoresis may be used for qualitative identification of variants, but also with elution for quantitation of the haemoglobins, A2, A, S, D, Lepore, ÃŽÂ ±-chain variants, Hb H and Hb Barts. Agarose gel electrophoresis is not a satisfactory screening technique because it cannot distinguish many abnormal haemoglobins from Hb A. However it can separate the C group into three fractions: HbC, O-Arab, and Hb E plus HbA2. The method can also distinguish Hb S from Hb D, Hb F from Hb A, Hbs Little Rock, Rainier and Bethesda from Hb A, and Hb H from Hb I. (68) The diagnosis of BTT relies on an accurate estimation of HbA2 levels.(69) Raised HbA2 level (>3.5%) is the gold standard for the diagnosis of BTT. Subjects found to be positive in preliminary screening tests by Red cell indices, DFs and NESTROFT are confirmed for thalassemic carrier status by various methods such as cellulose acetate electrophoresis, microcolumn chromatography, capillary isoelectrofocussing and HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography). Subjects with HbA2 levels of 3.5% and above are considered to have BTT. However precautions have to be taken when HbA2 levels fall between 3.3 and 3.7%. In such cases it is recommended to repeat the assay to rule out technical error or treat the patient for IDA before the analysis is repeated.(60) According to the Thalassemia working party of BCSH General haematology Task force both electrophoresis and elution from cellulose acetate or microcolumn chromatography are recommended. They suggested that precision and accuracy of automated scanning densitometry was inadequate for HbA2 estimation. (70) 2.18 Isoelectric focusing (IEF) IEF is another popular method used by laboratories that have a large number of specimens or very small sample volumes that perform newborn screening. This electrophoretic method utilizes carrier ampholytes, small proteins that are able to carry both current and pH (Zwitterions). When the current is applied to the support medium, the ampholytes will gradually establish a pH gradient throughout the gel (for example, a pH range of 6 to 8 for Hb analysis). IEF gives better separation of Hb variants that show similar mobilities on alkaline electrophoresis, which are much sharper. Hb variants such as Hb-Malmo, show separation from HbA which is not seen on alkaline electrophoresis. Minor bands such as HbH, Hb-Barts and Delta chain variants are easily seen.(71) Figure 2.6 Examples of many hemoglobin variants and their migration patterns on Isoelectric focusing. 2.19 Capillary isoelectric focusing (CIF) CIF is a useful analytical technique for characterization of protein mixtures and determination of protein isoelectric points. It is particularly useful in separation of protein glycoforms, characterizing protein microheterogeneity, and resolution of charge variants. The capillary focusing process is analogous to conventional isoelectric focusing in gels, while the requirement for zone mobilization is unique to the capillary format with on-tube detection. A variety of mobilization methods have been described, and the selection of the mobilization method for a particular application depends on the capillary type, the instrument configuration, and the type of proteins to be analyzed. Capillary IEF is generally successful for proteins with a molecular weight up to about 150,000 that exhibit good solubility in aqueous buffers, but may be unsatisfactory for large or hydrophobic proteins.(72) 2.20 Globin chain electrophoresis It is an ancillary procedure in which haemoglobin lysate with mercaptoethanol and 8mol/L Urea to dissociate the globin chain is used. It is run both at alkaline and acid pH. It gives additional information on haemoglobin variants that have similar mobilities by other methods.(71) Globin chain electrophoresis is run at both alkaline and acid pH because some hemoglobin variants show slight differences in mobility at the two pHs. This method often gives additional information on hemoglobin variants that have similar mobilities by other methods. In confusing cases, this method may be useful to document the presence of both an ÃŽÂ ± and a ÃŽÂ ² chain variant Examples of different hemoglobin variants on globin chain electrophoresis are shown in Figure 2.6. (www.cap.org/apps/docs/cap_press/hemoglobinatlas_intro.pdf) Figure 2.7.Examples of hemoglobin variants on both acid (pH 6.2) and alkaline (pH 8.9) globin chain electrophoresis. Source: Adopted from hemoglobin atlas. (www.cap.org/apps/docs/cap_press/hemoglobinatlas_intro.pdf) 2.21 High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) HPLC is a method that has been available for many years. Cation-exchange HPLC is emerging as the method of choice for the initial screening of Hb variants.(56) Run lengths have been shortened from more than 20mins to 6 to 7mins. These instruments are approved by U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the measurements of HbS, A2 and F. These instruments generally utilize a weak cation exchange column. Gradually increasing the ionic strength of the eluting solution causes the Hb protein to come off the column at a particular retention time. This method has a advantage that HbC does not coelute with HbA2, however HbE and HbO-Arab still coelute with HbA2 with this method.(71) 2.22 DNA Analysis The DNA analysis is gold standard for detection of carrier state of ÃŽÂ ²-thalassemia. The prenatal diagnosis of affected couple should be carried out to prevent the birth of thalassemic child by selective abortion of affected foetuses. It is essential to characterize the DNA mutations of the parents for prenatal diagnosis of affected couple. The methods available to study DNA mutations are allele specific oligonucleotide (ASO) screening, (73) reverse dot blot, and restriction endonuclease allele recognition.(74) The ASO method is for detection point mutations, nucleotide insertion or deletion in genomic DNA. In this method ASO probes of 18-20 per sequence are used. DNA is denatured and dot blotted on to a nylon membrane and then hybridized to different probes. In reverse dot blot probes are attached to the membrane and DNA hybridizes with dot corresponding to the mutation. A recent method is amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) technique in which specific primers against normal and mutant sequences are used.(60) More than 150 mutations causing beta-thalassemia have been reported from different parts of the world.(74) Studies conducted in Pakistan show the five most common mutations are IVS1-5 (G-C), IVS1-1 (G-T), Fr 41-42 (-TTCT) Fr 8-9 (+G) and deletion 619 bp.(75) Ahmed et al found that there are important ethnic and regional differences in the prevalence of mutations. The five most common mutations, IVSI-5 (G-C) (37.3%), Fr 8-9 (+G) (25.9%), del 619 (7.0%), Fr 41-42 (-TTCT) (6.7%) and IVSI-1 (G-T) (5.4%), constitute 82.3% of the total. Fr 8-9 (+G) is the most common mutation in Northern Pakistan (41.3%), whereas IVSI-5 (G-C) is the most frequent mutation in Southern Pakistan (52.2%). (76) 2.23 Prenatal Diagnosis The availability of prenatal diagnosis added a new option to couples at risk for major haemoglobinopathy, leading to a significant change in the effectiveness of screening and counseling in hemoglobinopathy prevention. Prenatal diagnosis of both ÃŽÂ ±- and ÃŽÂ ²-thalassemia was carried out for the first time in the 1970s using globin chains synthesis analysis in fetal blood, obtained by fetoscopy or placental aspiration around the nineteenth week of gestation. The advent of DNA analysis and the introduction of chorionic villi sampling resulted in a notable improvement in prenatal diagnosis because it could be performed generally at 10 to 12 weeks of gestation. Fetal DNA can be obtained also from aminocytes at 15 to 17 weeks of pregnancy. The reported risk of fetal loss with this procedure ranges from 0.5 to 4.5%. After sampling, fetal DNA analysis is performed by the PCR-based methods mentioned for carrier detection procedures. In general, the mutation to be detected in the fet us is first identified in the parents. The results of DNA analysis are very accurate, but misdiagnosis may occur for several reasons (failure to amplify the target DNA fragment, mispaternity, maternal contamination, and sample exchange). However, the risk of misdiagnosis can be significantly reduced using a number of precautionary measures, such as fetal DNA analysis for selected polymorphic markers.(35) Fetal cells, known to be present in the maternal circulation, represent an attractive, noninvasive approach to prenatal diagnosis. Fetal cells, immunological isolated for their low purity, can only be used for prenatal diagnosis of ÃŽÂ ²-thalassemia in women whose partners carry a different mutation. Recently, this problem has been overcome by development of a technique able to isolate single fetal erythroblasts from maternal blood by microscopic micromanipulation, making possible the analysis of both fetal genes in a single cell. However, this procedure is associated with several technical and biological problems and it is not widely applicable.(35) The discovery of free fetal DNA in maternal plasma provided the basis for developing another method for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis. However, because free maternal DNA is also present, the application to prenatal diagnosis of thalassemias would be possible only to exclude paternally derived pathologic alleles different from the mot hers mutation.(35) The advent of DNA amplification has made it possible to define the geneotype of a single cell biopsied from cleaving embryos (preimplantation diagnosis) and to analyze the polar body obtained during the maturation of the oocyte (preconceptional diagnosis). These procedures avoid the need to terminate affected pregnancies and permit the transfer of only healthy embryos established from in vitro fertilization. Successful experiences in many couples with this approach have been reported in hemoglobinopathies. However, preimplantation genetic diagnosis is a technically challenging, intensive procedure, which requires the close collaboration of a team of specialists. (35) To date, programmes for ÃŽÂ ²-thalassemia prevention based on carrier screening, genetic counseling, and prenatal diagnosis are on-going in several areas at risk in Mediterranean countries, with a marked decline in the incidence of thalassemia major. Effective preventive programs have also been established in countries such as United Kingdom, where thalassemia is a rare disorder that affects diverse minority ethnic groups. Special attention should be given in these programmes to the different religious and social issues and to the different attitude towards prenatal diagnosis of the various ethnic minorities. In case the mutations are not identified linkage studies using restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) or globin chain synthesis by cord blood sampling are the other options used for prenatal diagnosis. (60) In 1999, Maheshwari M and colleagues suggested fLow chart for carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis of thalassemia. (Figure 2.7) In 1994 the thalassemia working party of British Society of Hematology suggested guidelines for investigation of the ÃŽÂ ± and /ÃŽÂ ² thalassaemia traits. (Figure 2.8) Figure 2.8. FLow chart for carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis of thalassemia. Source: Adopted from Maheshwari M, Arora S, Kabra M, Menon PSN. Carrier screening and prenatal Diagnosis of Beta-thalassemia. Indian Pediatr 1999; 36: 1119-1125. Figure 2.9. FLow chart for thalassemia carrier detection suspected on red cell indices Source: adopted from Guidelines for investigation of the ÃŽÂ ± and /ÃŽÂ ² thalassaemia traits, The Thalassaemia Working Party of the BCSH General Haematology Task Force J Clin Pathol 1994;47:289-295 Prevention is better than cure. It is important to develop prevention programmes for thalassemia prevention where there is high frequency, to avoid fatalities from untreated thalassaemia cases, the expense and difficulty of providing optimum treatment for patients which creates a burden on patients, families and national health services. Thalassaemia patients may be left untreated (indeed, they often die without a diagnosis) or grossly under-treated. At the same time, quality of treatment is firmly linked to both survival rates and quality of life. (Thalassemia International Federation, 2003). The countries where prevention programmes are effective resulting in increased survival of thalassemia major patients in comparison to countries where preventive strategies do not exist. (Figure 2.6) Graph A Graph B Figure 2.10. Graph A: Age distribution of thalassemics in a country without prevention Patients are mostly infants (non-prevention) and children (early deaths) Graph B: Age distribution of thalassemics in a country with full prevention treatment. There is gap in early years with patients mostly in their mid-twenties. Source: Adopted from Prevention of thalassemia other hemoglobinopathies, Thalassaemia International Federation, 2003.